December 18, 2008

Below is a repost about a Village Voice piece that examined the influx of African runners into our local running scene. While it contrasted the Africans with local "fitness runners", the real resentment seems to come not from the fitness runners, who would never make it to a podium anyway (and from whom I've never heard any complaints), but from some local elite runners who feel that the immigrants are unfairly displacing them from their rightful place on the podium, taking their glory and prize money. Some of these local elites voice the complaint that the Africans have an advantage because they don't work full time jobs and have nothing to do but train. Just as in my original post, I challenge any of those local runners who envy the Africans' ability to do multiple workouts every day to trade places with them for a year. Quit your troublesome full-time job and trade it for a part time one driving a cab, packing groceries, cleaning houses, or - if you're really lucky - pacing groups of 10-11 min/mile runners. Move into a modest apartment in the Bronx with 3-4 others. Remember, you'll also have to give up your health insurance, so don't plan on getting injured or sick. Fill up that Metro Card, because you won't be taking any more cabs for a while. And it'll be Metro North up to Rockefeller State Park (for all that fun training that you're so lucky to do) next time instead of driving. You can throw out those takeout menus, because you'll be fixing your own food at home. Don't worry though - you don't have to send all of your prize money back to your family (whom you haven't seen in years). Just some of it. Start packing. Check in with me next year and let me know how all those cushy advantages are working out for you.

Two other postscripts from the original blog entry. First, it turns out that the cover photo of Abiyot Andale used by the Village Voice for their cover was doctored without his knowledge or permission. Also, while I'm not suggesting that the article or the resentment is overtly racist, I wonder why there was no similar fuss when Toby Tanser (a European immigrant) was absolutely dominating the local scene and winning all the money races a few years back, or when New Zealand's Olympian John Henwood came over and plucked all the prize money at local events.

I know that I'm normally pretty mild-mannered and don't like to share my opinions with others, but having just read what is possibly the most offensive article of the year in this week's Village Voice, I feel like it's time to speak up. The article - "Will Run for Food", is subtitled "Based in the Bronx, some of the most successful athletes you've never heard of live to run away with your club money". In it, the author, Graham Wayman, writes about how the poor, opressed "garden variety Manhattan health nut" can't get anywhere near the prizes at NYRR and other races. Those damn immigrants from third world countries, who drive taxis or clean apartments or bag groceries to supplement their income from races sure have it easy.

The notion that the Africans - with their limited resources and sparse living conditions - are picking on the poor Starbucks-sipping New Yorkers who take cabs to races is beyond offensive. What's to whine about? Guess what - they train harder. How many American-born NY runners are putting in the kind of training volume that these guys are? If anyone who's complaining wants to share a 1BR apartment in the Bronx with four other people, or can match the work ethic that so many of these runners display, then we can talk. Until then, those who bemoan their fate in the middle of the pack should take comfort in the knowledge that dinner will be waiting for them at Whole Foods when they finish their 45 minute workouts on the treadmill at Equinox while listening to their Ipod.

Guess what - maybe the immigrant kid who aced the exam studied harder than you did. Maybe his parents were reading to him while your folks left you in the living room to play with your video games. And maybe the big, bad African who steals your prize money has been running since he was a child, and continues to run more miles each week than you do in a month regardless of the weather, injuries or other deterrents. And maybe he does this despite having to travel to races under lousy conditions, and sharing a cramped apartment with a bunch of teammates.

Everyone wants to blame someone else for their own shortcomings. The author, and those he quotes in the article would do well to lose the sense of entitlement, stop blaming others for excelling, and try working harder next time.

I'm a big fan of massage for a number of reasons. Massage can reduce muscle spasms, it canhelp increase ROM, and - possibly most important - it feels really good.

Licensed massage therapists are health professionals who are required to study anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, etc, and they deserve more respect than they are often given. (Can you imagine unlicensed physical therapists or chiropractors practicing in storefronts or advertising withoutany state intervention the way so many "masseuses and masseurs" do in NY?)

Still, there's a statement that's constantly repeated by a lot of massage proponents that I've never heard defended with science. I'm often told thatmassage helps promote the removal of "toxins". In fact even Massage Todayhas acknowledged the lack of truth in such claims. "There's a statement, seemingly pervasive throughout massage education and massage books, that unspecified toxins accumulate in the body, and that these toxins can be flushed out by massage. I believe this is yet another myth that continues to be passed on as misinformation to massage students. This is not to dispute that there are very real toxins that accumulate in the body, notably persistent organicpollutants (POPs) in fatty tissues and heavy metals in skeletaltissues. However, these toxins are too chemically bound to theirtarget tissues to be significantly liberated by the mechanical motionsof massage."

I also hear about massage promoting lactic acid removal. As previously discussed, lactic acid is not the culprit in delayed onset muscle soreness- but even if it was, I know of no science supporting the claim that massagecan reduce lactic acid. A study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine that examined massage vs. active recovery vs. passive recovery from exercise quickly debunks that myth. "Analysis of lactate values indicated no remarkable difference between massage and a passive type of sitting recovery period. It wasobserved that in short term massage recovery, more oxygen was consumedas compared to a passive type of sitting recovery. It is concludedfrom the study that the short term body massage is ineffective inenhancing the lactate removal and that an active type of recovery isthe best modality for enhancing lactate removal after exercise."

December 12, 2008

Last night we had a little celebration for our Jack Rabbit marathoners, and FOX News anchor Shepard Smith happened to come into the bar. A few years back, Mr. Smith committed the decidedly
NSFW blooper that you can see below. In it, he is speaking
about Jennifer Lopez - a/k/a Jenny From the Block - and makes a "fox pas" for the ages.

While I was just content to giggle (again) at the thought of the story, David came up with the inspired idea to put "Jenny From the Block" on the jukebox to see if it got a rise out of the anchor. When the song came on, Joy decided to throw some fuel on the fire and invite Mr. Smith to dance. Needless to say, he was not amused. Needless to say, I was.

December 10, 2008

Since our friends in Texas have started the trash talking, it's time for a new contest. Texas jokes. I tend to favor Cowboys jokes, but anything about the state will do. Post 'em in the comments section. The winner gets a pack of beef jerky.

I'll get the party started.

Q: What do you call 47 guys sitting around a TV watching the Super Bowl?

Apparently the RD from the Texas Independence Relay has been hard at work at his computer, and carefully wrote those charming words referring to the City Coach team. Last year Scott Towle, Terry Moore and others placed 3rd overall in the Texas Independence Relay, and this year they're going back with Kevin Starkes, Ross McGraw, Steve Szycher, Gary Berard, Bruno Garcia, Tim Armstrong, Chad Medders and more.

Dang it! These guys just don’t seem to get it. After our best
efforts towards making them feel most unwelcome last year, they’ve gone
on and signed themselves up again....

Anyway, while last year’s team fared a lot better than anyone could
have ever expected (3rd overall), it appears they have done a bit of
retooling. Scott Towle, this year’s captain, mentioned something about
having ex-collegiate runners, ultra-runners, experienced marathoners
and triathletes… yada yada yada. Apparently, Towle is hoping to improve
on last year’s incredible-for-a-new-york-team finish. Of course, we at
the Texas Independence Relay are all about good sportsmanship,
fairness, etc… but how should I put this in a tactful and unbiased
manner… WE SIMPLY CAN NOT LET THESE JOKERS WIN! Not last year, not
ever!!! Never. So, The Road Killers and other fast Texas teams need to bring it because
these guys may be pretty good.

December 05, 2008

If you thought that the Beer Mile - in which competitors drink a total of four cans of beer, with four 1/4 mile jaunts interspersed - was a puke-fest, wait 'til you check out the Krispy Kreme Challenge. In the KKC, which is an annual fundraiser held at the NC State Belltower, racers run out for two miles, eat twelve (12) Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and then run back for two miles. Unlike the Beer Mile, there is no penalty for reversal, though you are not allowed to force yourself to hurl just for the sake of lightening the load.

I think the question isn't if - but when - we have our own NYC event. Hey Lou - are you up for chip timing it?

Blog reporter Ike points out this story in the Brooklyn Paper that discusses the proposed compromise between Transportation Alternatives and those in the community who fear increased motor vehicle traffic in their neighborhoods? Apparently the talk is that they'll cut back to one lane for motor vehicles in Prospect Park.

So, who's right - the tree huggers from TA who want cars out, or the lard asses who want to speed around the park in their gas-guzzlers?

I hope everyone had a healthy and happy holiday weekend. We had some nice race results at the Prospect Park Track Club's Turkey Trot and other races. Congrats to all who got their holiday off to a great start.

Sarah Wenk 42:19 - 5 miles

Lauri Young 38:21 - 5 miles

Agnes Zbylut 21:32 - 3 miles

Michael Borden 37:15 - 5 miles

Cassandra Metz 51:30 - 5 miles

Johanna Bjorken 37:35 - 5 miles

Enzo the 4-legged Wonder Dog 59:47 - 5 miles

If you're not listed here, it's probably not because I don't love you, but because I don't have your results. Shoot me a note and I'll add you.